Group Urges Edo to Enforce Supreme Court Ruling on Gelegele, Citing Investment, Security Risks


By Elvis Omoregie

The Aiguobasinmwin Movement Worldwide has called on the Edo State Government to immediately implement the 1983 Supreme Court judgment on the ownership of Gelegele community, arguing that enforcing the ruling is critical to safeguarding peace, protecting investments and unlocking the economic potential of one of the state's foremost oil-producing communities.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, the group said Gelegele, located in Ovia North East Local Government Area, remains strategically important to Edo State's economy because of its oil and gas resources, historic seaport and growing investment prospects. 

It warned that lingering ownership disputes could undermine social stability and discourage further investment in the area.

The statement, signed by the group's President, Mr. Iyamu Osaro Culture, Assistant Secretary, Mr. Uhunoma Ewere Lucky, and Diaspora Coordinator, Mr. Monday Ohuimumwen, JP, traced oil exploration in Gelegele to 1963 when Phillips Oil Company commenced operations before the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 96 was transferred to Dubri Oil Company Limited in 1987.

According to the group, Dubri Oil Company currently operates the Gelegele Flow Station, where crude oil from the Ovia and Gelegele fields is processed and evacuated. It added that the fields have produced about 7.778 aamillion barrels of light crude oil and approximately 27.91 billion standard cubic feet of associated gas since 1987, underscoring the community's contribution to Nigeria's petroleum industry.

The movement also expressed concern over what it described as the prolonged environmental impact of oil production, alleging that residents have lived with decades of gas flaring and pollution while expecting greater environmental protection and development from stakeholders in the petroleum sector.

Beyond its hydrocarbon resources, the group highlighted Gelegele's historical significance, describing it as an integral part of the Benin Kingdom and the site of the historic Gelegele Seaport, which it said was established during the reign of Oba Ewuare the Great. It argued that the community occupies a unique place in Edo State's economic and cultural history.

The movement further referenced the 1983 Supreme Court judgment, which it said resolved the ownership dispute over Gelegele in favour of the Benin people. It maintained that despite the apex court's decision, ownership claims have resurfaced over the years, with reported clashes involving Benin and Ijaw groups in 2019 and 2021.

The group contended that full implementation of the judgment would help prevent future disputes, strengthen the rule of law and create a stable environment for investment in the state's oil, gas and maritime sectors. It urged the Edo State Government to take decisive steps to enforce the court's decision in the interest of lasting peace and sustainable economic development.

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